Steve Gurdak serves as the group manager for the Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area’s Northern Virginia Financial Initiative (NVFI). The NVFI was created to be a model for suspicious activity report (SAR) review teams. Gurdak has been dubbed “the godfather of SAR review teams” based on his role there. He has written more than 25 articles for ACAMS Today, most of which have highlighted his real-life experiences dealing with operating an effective SAR review team. Although he has reached George Mason University faculty emeritus status, he has still not retired from his role with his SAR review team. His team meetings continue to include many of the legends, VIPs and top subject-matter experts in the anti-money laundering/Bank Secrecy Act space both presenting and attending.

In addition, Gurdak has over 30 years of law enforcement experience and has accumulated an impressive list of awards and commendations that include being named the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network’s 2021 SAR Review Team of the Year honor. Gurdak has testified in federal court as an expert witness in money laundering. He regularly trains new detectives and agents in general investigative skills. Now, more than ever, he emphasizes the need for better financial investigation literacy.